A Quick Catalog of My Tattoos
Not quite at double digits, but we're also at nine more than I thought I'd ever get so...
This one’s simple. I currently have nine tattoos. I mostly know the chronology and origins of the tattoos, but since I got a new one, I figured I’d get the timeline straight and write some words.
Electric Motor Schematic (July 2016)
This one was simple. Emboldened by the Dr. Manhattan sentiment of “If I am to have a symbol, it will be one that I respect,” I wanted my first tattoo to be symbolic and simple and representative of my love of simple machines and machinations. I actually designed the tattoo myself and had my artist, Anna Spitz of Lucky Cat Studios (I do not know what happened to Anna and Lucky Cat disbanded in the throes of the pandemic) make some adjustment. It was a simple process.
The Hanged Man (May 2017)
It looks like about a year later, I got an itch for another tattoo. I’ve discussed my appreciation of tarot before and my affinity for the Hanged Man at length already so I won’t elaborate too much more on this one. I will note this marks my introduction to *the shovel* and is also the only tattoo that has needed touch ups (the lining and white shading on the moon. It’s also looking like it needs a couple touch ups on the Roman Numerals, but that’s a future me problem).
Godfellas Tribute
This was my first intricate tattoo right on the chest and this one was the first tattoo that *sucked.* It also marked the first time I had to switch artists and Anna ventured off into the unknown and I began working with Amanda Pepper for my next three tattoos. Anna did the stencil, but Amanda did the actuall application and it’s still one of my favorite tattoos to date.
A Message in Hexadecimal (Mid 2018?)
This is where my record keeping falters as instead of tattoos being *novel* they were *things I got with a regular enough frequency I did not actively celebrate in the same way*. This does my mark my first Destiny tattoo, this time taking a quote from some lore vis a vis Kabr: “What the City wants us to do—what we want to do—it doesn't make any damned sense. That phrase 'tip of the spear' sounds good in speeches, but you know what happens to spear tips? They break. But that's what it takes. If the choice is between you or the Wall? You break." It was specifically the italicized that was converted to hexadecimal and freverently double and tripled checked.
The Chimera of Destiny (Early 2019)
This would be the last tattoo I would get at Lucky Cat as my attempt to get a consultation in March of 2020 was… well in March of 2020. I originally imagined this more of a sleeve, but Amanda’s intepretation of my asked ended up being a lot cooler and I’m a fan of how it turned out.
The Defect (November 2021)
Tattoo 6 involved having to find a new artist and a new studio. At the recommendation of a friend, I went over to the St. Louis Company in a part of the area that is decidely no longer in St. Louis Proper, but that’s neither here nor there. I went in with a very different idea and a different artist, but a series of reference struggles and injuries eventually led to this design with Pedro Velesco, who did a fantastic job with my second favorite game by hours played (with some design elements from Destiny because it felt right).
Tattoo 6 is notable because 1) it was the first tattoo I had to do over two sessions and 2) it was the first time since the chest tattoo that I felt true pain due to the fine line work on the shin. I’m never getting another shin tattoo.
Heart of Inmost Light (November 2023)
At this point in the recap, I realized I wanted to get tattoos with slightly more frequency, so I ended up researching shops closer to my house before eventually finding Kevin Myers at Thirteen Roses. I went to him specifically because I wanted a very specific geometry pattern and some wonky font stuff as I combined my favorite piece of armor in Destiny with my favorite quote and put it right on my sternum. In the mirror I can read “There must be another way / We must become more than we are.”
It was fun.
A Tumblr Shit Post (March 2024)
I couldn’t tell you exactly when I stopped needing all my tattoos to be super meaningful, but I think when I thought “I should get my favorite tumblr shit post etched into my leg” is when it confirmed that I just liked getting stabbed. This didn’t as much as the shin, but all that fine line work did suck haha.
A Penguin (December 2024)
Yeah, this one I just wanted a friend. Kevin mostly does black and white, but he did dabble in color which made him a perfect fit for this little fella.
Who knows what will get the distinction of being tattoo 10. ButI don’t think I’m stopping any time soon.